Umbrella structure



y 8 1951 L. D; MYERS 2,551,963

UMBRELLA STRUCTURE Filed March 17, 1947 Inventor- 'Ob LLOYD .D. MYERS Attorney.

Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an umbrella structure. While the invention is applicable to umbrellas of various types, it particularly is designed for use in such an umbrella as disclosed and claimed in applicant's prior Patent No. 2,140,647, granted December 20, 1938.

It is an object of this invention to provide an umbrella having a plurality of ribs arranged in radial circumierentially spaced positions about a central axis and adapted to support an umbrella cover, together with novel and efficient means for holding said ribs in diverging position with said umbrella open, together with means for easily and quickly moving said ribs together to close said umbrella.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an umbrella structure comprising a plurality of radially disposed and circumferentially spaced ribs adapted to support an umbrella cover, a member to which the adjacent ends of said ribs are 'swingingly connected, a plurality of links swingingly connected respectively to said ribs, a second member to which the inner ends of said links are swingingly connected, said second mem ber carrying means adapted to be engaged by the sides of said links when the same are disposed approximately at right angles to said axis to prevent converging movement of said ribs and thus hold said umbrella in open position.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide an umbrella structure comprising a plurality of ribs arranged in radially and circumferentially spaced positions about a central axis, a member to which the adjacent ends of said links are swingingly connected, said member preferably having a central opening therethrough, a plurality of links respectively swingingly connected to said ribs at a comparatively short distance from the adjacentends thereof, a second member to which the inner ends of said links are swingingly connected, said second member preierably having a central opening therethrough,

and a plate movable with said second member adapted to be engaged by the lower sides of said links when the same are in positions approximately at right angles to said axis to prevent converging movement of said ribs and thus hold said umbrella in open position.

It is still another object of the invention to provide such a structure as set forth in the preceding paragraph, together with a third member secured to said second member and extending fourth members are held and moved in opposite directions said second member will be moved downwardly and swinging movement of said links and converging movements of said ribs permitted to close said umbrella.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of an umbrella of the type shown in said patent;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. l, as indicated by the arrows;

' Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a partial end view as seen substantially from line d4 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. '7, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a partial top plan view of Fig. 6 with certain parts removed; and

Fig. 8 is a partial bottom plan view of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings an umbrella structure is shown comprising a plurality of ribs l0 arranged in radial and circumferentially spaced relation about a central axis lI-l l, as indicated in Fig. 6. While ribs ll] could be variously formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated theyare shown as made from strips of metal having their remote ends Illa flat and provided with apertures I01) and having their upper or adjacent portions lflc in the form of channels with the sides directly inwardly. The upper or adjacent portions of ribs [0 are flat transversely and have their ends bent around a ring l2 so as to be swingingly connected thereto. Ribs it are adapted to support a fabric cover 13 of the umbrella shaped as shown in Fig. 1, and which will be connected by suitable stitching in the apertures b. A top piece of fabric l4 overlies the upper open end of cover l3 and will be stitched thereto. Ring [2 and the adjacent ends of ribs Ill are carried in a member l5 comprising upper and lower plates l5a having central openings. and secured together by an annular member I6 having radially extending flanges overlying the remote sides of said plates. Plates I5a are bent into diverging relation at their outer portions to form an annular channel in which ring l2 and the adjacent ends of ribs ii! are disposed. A member l8 which may be in the form of a flexible cord or tape is connected to member l5 and while it could be connected in any suitable manner, it is shown as extending through the eyeletted end of a connecting pin l9 and. being 3 connected to said end by a knot lBa formed thereon. Pin 19 has a portion extending through the opening in member l6 and through a washer 20 disposed below member l6, member l9 being provided with a head 19a extending about the opening in washer 20. Member l8, as shown in Fig. 6, extends through a slit in member 14 and is preferably formed with a loop l8b at its end which can be done by forming therein the knot I80. Secured to each of the ribs In a comparatively shortdistance from their adjacent ends, is a link 22. Links 22 are swingingly connected to ribs lfl by pivot members 23 extending through the sides of portions I00. A member 24 is provided havin an annular groove 24a formed therein between spaced plates or washers 241) which are respectively secured in grooves in member 24. A ring 25, which may be formed as shown by a plurality of strands of a small rod or wire, is disposed in groove 24a. Plates 2412 are provided with slots 240, as shown in Fig. 4, and the adjacent ends of links 22 are disposed respectively in slots 24c and are apertured to have passed therethrough the ring 25. The inner ends of links 22 are thus swingingly connected to ring 25 and member 2 1. Member 26 also has secured thereto a third plate 24d, the same being suitably secured in an annular groove in said member below the lower plate 24?). Plate 24d is of a diameter to be contacted by the lower 2 sides of the links 22 when they are in positions approximately at right angles to axis lI-H. Member 24 has a central opening therethrough and a member 27 which may be in the form of a tape or cord is connected to member 24, the same being shown as passing through the central opening therein and being provided with a knot 21a at its upper end, which knot is too large to pass through said opening and thus engages the top of member 24. Member 21 extends downwardly centrally for some distance and is preferably formed into a loop 21d at its lower end which may be produced by forming the. knot 21b in member 21.

In operation when the umbrella is to be opened, member 24 will be pushed upwardly toward the top member 15. This will move links 22 outwardly and when the links reach a position slightly above the position at which they are right angles to axis l |l l, the lower sides thereof engage plate 24d, as shown in Fig. 6. The links 22 are then slightly over the dead center position and further upward swinging movement of the inner ends of the links is prevented by plate 24d. The ribs III are now held in their outer positions with the umbrella in open position and the ribs cannot be moved together by any pressure inwardly thereon. The links 22 thus lock slightly across the right angle or dead center position and the umbrella is held in open position. When it is desired to close the umbrella this can very easily and quickly be done by pulling downward on member 21. This pulls downwardly on member 24 and swings the inner ends of links 22 downwardly thus permitting the ribs Hi to converge and the umbrella to close. Member 25 must be held stationary relatively to member 24 and while this could be done by holding one of the ribs 10 or otherwise, it most conveniently is done by holding member l8 in one hand and pulling on member 21 with the other hand. The umbrella is in this manner very quickly brought to closed position.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a very simple, efiicient and easily operated means for mOViI'lg the umbrella to open position and locking it in such open position. Means are also provided which can be very quickly and easily operated for moving the umbrella to closed position. The parts of the device are comparatively few and simple and can be easily and inexpensively made. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to be very successful and eflicient and is being commercially made.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carryin out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An umbrella structure having in combination, a plurality of ribs arranged in radially and circumferentially spaced relation about a central axis, an upper central member to which said ribs are pivotally connected having a central opening therethrough, a cover supported on and disposed when extended in a surface defined by the top surfaces of said ribs, a plurality of links pivotally connected respectively at intermediate points on said ribs, a lower central member having a cen-. tral opening therethrough, means pivotally connecting the inner ends of said links to said lower member, said lower member being movable down-. wardly away from said upper member, the inner ends of said links bein movable downwardly therewith, a plate carried by said lower member forming a stop for the inner ends of said ribs when extending slightly upwardly at their inner ends, a third member secured to said upper membar and having a portion extending through said opening therein adapted to be grasped by the operator and a flexible member extending through said opening in said lower member and having means engaging the top thereof, said flexible member being adapted to be grasped by the operator simultaneously with said third member to move said lower member downwardly to swing said ribs downwardly and toward each other to extend said structure.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, said portion of said third member bein flexible and said flexible member depending from said lower member and having a lower handle portion.

LLOYD D. MYERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 311,015 Lecraft Jan. 20, 1885 985,842 Roney Mar. '1, 1911 1,072,340 Liljegran Sept. 2, 1913 1,124,420 Gough Jan. 12, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,850 Great Britain Mar. 26, 1892 

